Lenk and Gstaad, June 2025

[Pauline]

Arrival​

We spent 9 nights near Baden-Baden in the Black Forest, Germany. From there we drove into Switzerland, up into the mountains of the Berner Oberland region.

The drive was difficult. The first hour on the German autobahn in a very heavy rain. Then an hour or more on the Swiss autobahn in a construction zone from Basel to Bern. They paint orange lane lines making very narrow new lanes and everyone drives fast. But we arrived.

We’ve been coming to Lenk in Simmental (near the more famous Gstaad) every year for ten years. Our first trip to Switzerland was in 1988 when we spent the summer in Grindelwald and Zermatt and we’ve come back as often as we could since then. We finally settled on Lenk being perfect for us so now that is where we come (or nearby).

Why Switzerland? It is for the hiking. You don’t have to be a mountain climber to hike in the mountains here. Gondolas whisk you up to alpine levels, small buses drive you up to hidden valleys and trains move around between towns. For the last several years we have been driving here from our home in the South West UK. Another reason for Switzerland - we love the mountains. That fresh mountain air, the perfect mountain villages, fields of cows.

We arrived on Friday too tired to even go to the supermarket! Saturday was overcast, cool and there was rain. We did our supermarket shopping.

Sunday was sunny but not hot and we did my favourite walk here, along the river. I had been dreaming of this hike! There were lots of people on the trails. Sunday is always busy with people out walking and family picnics. This was a long weekend too.

Monday was sunny and hotter, 70F, but the week ahead is getting hotter. We did a longer version of the river walk.

We are staying in the apartment we have rented four times now. It is just outside of town, in among the farms, with a beautiful view of the big mountains at the end of the valley. This year, as we approached, I saw a huge construction crane! One field over from us they are rebuilding the REKA site! They tore down the old chalets and are rebuilding. There was no noise from them over the weekend but they started up Tuesday and it was LOUD!

Well at least all that is a field away from the back of our apartment. The morning after we arrived the neighbours in front of the apartment, the field where they used to keep beautiful deer, started digging up ditches for pipes and we realized they are putting in a new building that will block much of the view from our balcony. They had the four corners marked showing the height of the building.

Today, Tuesday, I talked to the agency and they are moving us to their chalet in town where we stayed last June. Well we had three good years staying at Alpsunne, enjoying that view, watching the deer.

Driving into Lenk.

I always take this same photo.

Walking along the river.

The small lake in Lenk. Wild irises!

We did a walk around our neighbourhood and bought honey.

Monday night there was a spectacular moon rise.

 

[daydreamer]

Wow!

 

[Pauline]

Tuesday June 10​

Sunny, 75F

Another hot day with more in the forecast. We drove up to Zweisimmen for the small vegetable market. Then we did a good hike parking in nearby Boltigen and walking a steady uphill for 90 minutes to reach a viewpoint.

We used to regularly do a different version of this hike ending at the same viewpoint but haven’t done it the last couple of years because they closed the tourist office where we used to park. It is hard to find parking in these small towns. This time we parked at the Boltigen train station and did an out-and-back hike instead of a circular.

While on our lunch break I negotiated our move to a different location in Lenk. We will be back in town in the Spitzacker apartment we stayed in last June. Well packed up Tuesday night and moved Wednesday morning.

Walking on a lane up from Boltigen.

The viewpoint and our lunch spot.

The view behind us.

 

[Pauline]

Wednesday June 11​

Sunny, 75F

We moved to the new apartment, Chalet Spitzacker, did some grocery shopping and enjoyed our balcony.

This is a very nice apartment, better than Chalet Alpsunne in some ways. Both buildings are managed by the same agency, FerienLizenz. We are on the top floor (2nd European, 3rd by American standards) with a large balcony and one of the best views in Lenk. The beds are better. It is nice being in town. There is some road noise which we didn’t have in Alpsunne but here you can walk to the shops, the train and bus station and to the gondola station. I am happy with the move.

Very close to the church bells which ring on the quarter hours but they go to only on the hour from 8pm to 8am and they don’t wake us up.

Similar view as from Alpsunne but much closer.

Looking down the street.

 

[Pauline]

Thursday June 12​

Sunny, 81F

It was hot in Lenk so we took the gondola up to the cooler alpine levels. Lenk is at 1000m (3280ft) and Leiterli, the top of the Betelberg gondola, is almost 2000m (6561ft). There is no shade up there but you get a breeze.

We hiked around Stubleni, the hill behind Leiterli. The trail was lined with alpine flowers. It is a good climb to the top, 500ft (150m), with a rewarding view. You can see down to Launen, outside of Gstaad, on one side and Lenk on the other.

From Stubleni we walked out and back across Gryden, a steep gypsum ridge with a narrow path that goes up and down. It is about 30 minutes each way I think (seemed longer). We used to walk across this once or twice every trip. I was always a bit nervous but this time I was very nervous. We had not done this walk in two years. And we are never doing it again! Steep slopes on either side, easy to slip on the loose gravel, very narrow, tricky bits of climbing over rock.

Plus the altitude was starting to get to us. So we crossed almost to the end of the ridge, turned around before the steep end part, walked back and then back down to Leiterli. We had our sandwiches in the gondola ride down.

The hike was 5 miles and took us 3 hours. Next time we won’t do that Gryden ridge!

The trail was lined with alpine flowers.

The colors were intense.

Gryden, that white gypsum ridge, doesn’t look like much but it is a difficult walk.

Proof of existence. Me on the trail.

And here is Steve!

 

[Pauline]

Gryden​

More about Gryden from the Lenk Tourism website.

View: https://youtu.be/KYoC5WJcWkA?si=F2t5Ypl5Ps5R3Sci

Gryden high-altitude circular trail

The hike starts at the top station of the Betelberg gondola lift (Leiterli). The first section of the mountain hiking trail leads along the Leiterli Alpine circular trail, which offers an interesting mix of original information and adventure stations. At Alp Steinstoss, the path becomes narrower...

lenk-simmental.ch

From the website: The trail then takes a short, steeper ascent over the Stübleni limestone formation. The crater-like, bizarre "Gryden" rock landscape spreads out on its northern side. The extraordinary rock landscape in the Stübleni area fascinates not only geologists and biologists, but anyone who enjoys a unique landscape. The terrain consists of gypsum rock: the slow dissolution by rainwater and the subsequent underground seepage form sinkholes, which give the terrain a crater-like appearance.

 

[Pauline]

Yodeling​

There is a big yodeling festival in Lenk next weekend, June 20-22. We will be in Gstaad by then but this explains why I couldn’t book anything in Lenk for that week. Too bad I didn’t figure this out when I booked Alpsunne last December but then we might have had to stay in Alpsunne with all the construction so maybe it is good we are heading out.

Gstaad is only 45min drive away so we could come back to Lenk for a day. But 30,000 visitors in a town of 5,000 might be a bit too much.

Bern. Kant. Jodlerfest Lenk-St.Stephan 20. - 22. Juni 2025

www.jodlerfest-lenk.ch

Translation from website: We can welcome around 3,000 active yodellers, alp horn and book winds, flag-wingers and hopefully 30,000 visitors in our beautiful region for a sociable festive weekend. The big parade on Sunday will be the crowning highlight of the weekend.

They started setting up stages around town this weekend.

The other night we heard singing and there was a group outside by the church singing and yodeling.

View: https://youtu.be/rwmCtkj3NYU?si=IF9m_dhnO8FLdD1S

 

[Pauline]

Friday June 13​

Sunny, 82F.

Hot today! We went for a walk along the river. Late in the afternoon it started to rain. We had heavy rain, lightening and thunder, and hail! It was a relief after those hot days.

After the storm.

 

[Pauline]

Saturday June 14​

Sunny, some cloud, 81F

We drove up to the end of the valley and did the hike to Siebenbrunnen. We’ve always loved this hike. It is a steep one-hour hike up 300m (900ft) along a fast flowing river with many water falls, then you are in a perfect valley. Another 30 minutes and you are at Siebenbrunnen, seven springs that come from the glaciers above and start the River Simme that runs to Lenk, onto Zweisimmen where it meets a river from Gstaad, and down the valley to Lake Thun.

Being a weekend day there were a lot of people. We talked with two groups of younger people both hiking right up to the top of the mountains to stay in a hut. We find the hike up to Siebenbrunnen is harder each year and takes longer but even in our hiking prime we never could have made it to the hut. It is a very steep, long climb.

There is a farm and a restaurant here. We walked to the falls and had lunch there enjoying the cool air from that glacial water. Since the return is downhill it took half the time to walk back.

Siebenbrunnen, 3.5mi, 886ft ascent, 2hr23min

One of the bigger waterfalls on the trail.

View along the trail.

The valley at the top of the climb.

The farm.

The restaurant.

The seven springs, Siebenbrunnen.

View: https://youtu.be/exYlhQh5Icc?si=v3Z0oQsUPBUSDMpc

A video of the falls on the walk up.

 

[CityScrolls]

I love this trip report! I assume there’s more to come, Pauline, so I’ll keep an eye on this thread.

While I respect people who return regularly to the same place or area, I can’t help but encourage you to explore other parts of Switzerland as well. Especially if you love mountains!

 

[Pauline]

While I respect people who return regularly to the same place or area, I can’t help but encourage you to explore other parts of Switzerland as well.

I’ve been traveling in Switzerland regularly since 1988, staying in many locations. We did visit Lenk on that first trip but only for three nights. When we returned 10 years ago we realized that this area is perfect for us, for our style of “easy walking”.

On our trips to Lenk we usually add on a week or two in another location. This time it was Baden-Baden in Germany. I never wanted to be one of those people that return to the same place but, at my age now, I find it suits me. Easy to book, easy to plan. No need to research the hikes - I know them all!

 

[Pauline]

Sunday June 15​

Some sun, some cloud, 77F

A rest day. I am enjoying being in town, popping out in the morning to the bakery, watching as they build the stages and market areas for the upcoming festival.

Monday June 16​

Finally cooler. Sunny, 68F

We did a nice long River Walk today. These are our last few days in Lenk. On Thursday we move to Gstaad for 10 nights. We left home three weeks ago tomorrow.

 

[artnbarb]

I miss Switzerland! Thanks for taking us along. That yodeling and alphorn festival sounds amazing, except for the crowds!

 

[Pauline]

The Last Few Days in Lenk​

We did our favorite hike up to Iffigfall and a couple more River Walks, then packed up and moved to a vacation rental in Gstaad. All the days were hot and sunny. I keep thinking “to hot for me” but I am handling the heat well.

Before we left we drove around and checked out some other vacation rental possibilities. We found three that are in good locations and look nice. Last year we came to Switzerland twice - June and September. I’m not sure we will do that again this year but if not we will be back next year. We enjoyed our stay in Chalet Spitzacker (our second) so we may just stay there again but it is good to have other options.

Walking up to Iffigfall.

Iffigfall.

The cooling water spray.

 

[Pauline]

A Week in Gstaad​

We’ve been in Gstaad for a week. It’s continued to be hot and sunny with an occasional thunderstorm. We’ve done a lot of good hiking.

We rented an apartment in a two-family chalet on a hillside between Saanen and Gstaad. We could walk to either town but I don’t want to deal with walking up the hill we are on so we drive into town. There is plenty of parking but it is paid parking. I’m using the Easy Park app which works well.

This was a farmhouse with an attached barn and when renovated had to keep that look, but now is two apartments.

It has a beautiful terrace. You get a breeze up here which has been good on the hot days.

Looking down to Gstaad.

Gstaad is very different from Lenk. We near American voices frequently, most people in shops speak English, the town is very upscale and busy. Saanen is not as busy but is still busier than Lenk.

A lot of people from India come here because the area has been featured in several Bollywood films. The bridge over the train tracks in Saanen always has people taking photos.

Gstaad and the hotel that sits above the town. It was used in one of the Pink Panther movies.

One day we were in Gstaad with time on our hands before a train we were going to take to a hike (I read the schedule wrong) and the skies opened. We had to shelter from the downpour. We gave up on the hike but then it cleared so we were able to do part of it that afternoon.

 

[Pauline]

Arnensee (Lake Arnensee)​

On a hot Sunday we drove to a nearby mountain lake, Arnensee. You pay 7CHF at the start of the road to the lake. It is a narrow, winding road up into the mountains with cars going in both directions but it wasn’t that busy. When we got to the lake the parking area was packed but we managed to find a spot. It did require a 50 point turn to get out of the spot but at least we got parked.

It was a sunny Sunday and the area was busy. People at the restaurant or having barbecue around the lake. It took an hour to walk around the lake and most of the trail was in shade. I think the water was very cold but there were a few people swimming.

It was cooler up there because it was higher altitude and there was a breeze. The cold lake also cools it down.

After our walk we set out to find another lake, Lac Retaud. Notice this is a French name. We are close to the “Rosti Ditch” here where it changes from a German speaking area to a French speaking area. (Rosti is a German dish.)

We found the road to the lake but decided to not drive another narrow road. Instead we kept driving and did an hours drive that we’ve done before, but long ago. This is a beautiful area and we did a big circle through the area. We came across a huge flea market spread out along the highway in a small town. We didn’t stop but it looked interesting.

Wooded trail around Arnensee.

Arnensee.

 

[Pauline]

Launensee (Lake Launen)​

On another hot day we drove up to Launen outside of Gstaad, parked and walked to Launensee. The trail was along the river and mostly in the woods with one big climb. The lake is not as stunning as Arnensee was still beautiful and was situated in front of some of the mountains we saw from Lenk. Years ago we walked from Lenk to Launen. This area is very close to Lenk. This was a 6 mile hike with a 500ft ascent.

Walking towards Launensee. It is higher up, behind that first green hill.

Launensee. It takes 45 minutes to walk around the lake. You can drive here but it costs 15CHF to park. There is a bus from Gstaad.

 

[Pauline]

Panoramaweg​

We were going to walk the Panoramaweg from Saanenmoser to Gstaad, as we did last year, but we got rained out and instead drove to Schoenreid and walked the trail out and back to Saanenmoser. This is a good mostly flat walk, 3 miles.

Walking towards Schoenreid.

Hornburg​

We do this hike every time we are here because I LOVE this chairlift. We drove to Schoenreid, took the chairlift and did a good out and back walk. This walk along a ridge looks down on Turbach Valley where we have not hiked until this trip. (We did that hike today.)

Riding up on the chairlift.

Restaurant at Hornberg.

Looking down to Turbach Valley.

Fields of wildflowers.

Turbach Valley​

I’ve wanted to do this hike for years. We were told that construction was going on in the valley (something to do with the river) and it might disrupt the hike. We took the bus to the end of the valley then walked back to Gstaad. It was beautiful.

The path along the river was good. There are higher trails on each side of the valley but we wanted to walk along the river. There were two construction sites but we easily walked by them. This was a 4 mile walk, gentle downhill untill the end where you walk down steep streets of Gstaad.

Walking down the valley.

Coming into Gstaad. That crane is on a worksite for a chalet.